Except that Shaull didn't call it "texting," he called it "faxing," Reichard said.

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Shaull was very active in the community, as a member of Chanceford Presbyterian Church, Airville Fire Company's board of directors, a volunteer at St. James Clothes Closet and a lifetime member of the York County Fiddlers Association.

Shaull was also an avid hunter and fisherman, Workinger said.

"Last year, we took him to Alaska to go halibut fishing," she said. "It was the 'best fishing day in his life', he said."

He worked for GTE - beginning when it was known as York Telephone and Telegraph - for 36 years, as a cable slicer and trouble-shooter, Workinger said.

Grove said he met Shaull in 1966 when the two worked together, and often carpooled.

"He knew his job and he was good at it," Grove said.

Shaull was a spontaneous guy - you never knew what he was going to do next, Grove said.

"He was always fun ... You just had to go with the flow," he said.

One time, Shaull had been to an auction, then came around Grove's home around midnight, "Just to let us know he had a pig," Grove said.

Shaull was also a very giving person, Grove said.

"If there was anything in the world he could do for you, he would," he said. "Everybody I know of, he took them fishing, one time or another."

What happened

Robert Shaull was hunting deer with a bow just before he died Wednesday, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Investigators believe that as Shaull was in a tree stand - about 20 feet off the ground - when one of the ratchet straps that attached it to the tree broke, causing him to fall, according to Trooper Adam Reed.

The fall happened between 6 and 6:30 p.m. Shaull was discovered by a son-in-law, according to York County Deputy Coroner Steve Cosey.

Shaull was taken to York Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 8:51 p.m. He died of multiple blunt force trauma; the manner of death is accidental, according to the coroner's office.

Pennsylvania State Police continue to investigate.

Shaull's family asked that hunters who use tree stands always wear a safety harness. Shaull was not wearing one the night he died, his daughter Amy Reichard said.